2025 26 Roster…too Soon

[Hattrick Kane]

I have no problem throwing money at Marner. Team still needs talent.

Let’s get to the playoffs first before we start worrying about the playoffs.

 

[ploppsdman]

Knies has said he doesn't want to go the offer sheet route, right? So, if that's correct, we can put that dream to rest.

 

[Kevin Musto]

Knies has said he doesn't want to go the offer sheet route, right? So, if that's correct, we can put that dream to rest.

I mean, he's not gonna publicly say "bring on the offer sheets!"

If he received an offer sheet that is significantly more than what Toronto is offering, he's going to sign it

 

[TheFridge]

Interesting! When does prime Patrick Kane hit the market and become an alternative for us as an UFA?

Marner is playing great in the playoffs for the second time in three years in which they're likely going to advance beyond the first round. But I guess we don't count these series because of the opponents or something.

Why respond if you're just going to ignore my point?

 

[TheFridge]

That version of Patrick Kane isn't available in free agency. Marner is.

Do you think the Hawks are going to get a PPG(+) player in this year's draft? What about next year's?

This isn't a decision between picking Kane or picking Marner. It's a decision of whether you think a player of Marner's caliber can help fill what will likely be a rather large hole up front versus what you feel his actual value is in comparison to his cap hit.

If we don't sign a player like Marner in the next few years, are you really comfortable with the best forwards up front being (something like) Bedard, Nazar, Frondell? Does that scream contender to you?

Marner might not be clutch, but he is a solid f***ing player all the same. And he'd be one of the better forwards for the foreseeable future here. And his addition may be enough that, if the Hawks can have as dynamite a defensive core as we all hope, maybe we can contend in the future. If we don't pick him (or Kaprizov or some other soon-to-be UFA of that caliber), this team likely won't be good enough over the next handful of years.

The point is, Marner wants to get paid the same kind of money and he's half the player when it matters. It's not about Kane vs. Marner, it's about paying a guy top-5 player in the world money when he isn't that -- compounded by the fact that he'll be in his 30s when the Hawks are good enough to compete in the playoffs.

We don't even know what some of these young forwards are going to be in the next few years, plus the Hawks are going to be drafting high again next year. I'm very comfortable being patient.

"Marner might not be clutch, but he's solid." A ringing endorsement for a guy you're paying 13/14M per year for into his mid-30s. Great stuff.

 

[CallMeShaft]

The point is, Marner wants to get paid the same kind of money and he's half the player when it matters. It's not about Kane vs. Marner, it's about paying a guy top-5 player in the world money when he isn't that -- compounded by the fact that he'll be in his 30s when the Hawks are good enough to compete in the playoffs.

We don't even know what some of these young forwards are going to be in the next few years, plus the Hawks are going to be drafting high again next year. I'm very comfortable being patient.

"Marner might not be clutch, but he's solid." A ringing endorsement for a guy you're paying 13/14M per year for into his mid-30s. Great stuff.

You're comfortable being patient, others are not. Others feel Bedard needs help now and do no want to be waiting literal years for that player to maybe be drafted and developed by the Hawks.

The unfortunate truth is that Hawks likely don't get Misa this year. They'll get one of Hagens/Martone/Frondell/Desnoyers. The guy who liked this post of yours, Kevin Musto, calls the latter two as bottom 6 centers and/or wingers. I don't necessarily agree with that, however it is safe to say that all those guys hold real risk of not turning into difference makers.

And another unfortunate truth is the Hawks almost certainly won't get McKenna next year. The hope from management is likely that we won't be among the bottom 5 teams in the league, that we'd take a big step in the standings like Anaheim, Columbus, and Montreal did this year. If that is the case, we likely won't be looking at a top 5 pick in 2026.

Maybe you feel comfortable waiting another season or two and going after a big UFA at that point. Problem with that is usually there isn't a guy of Marner's caliber available in free agency. You can't just expect Kaprizov to not re-sign with Minny, let alone have interest in the Hawks if he were to go to free agency.

I'd rather take as many shots at acquiring that caliber of player in free agency as we can. Because it is not a guarantee that we can get them somewhere else right now.

 

[Kevin Musto]

You're comfortable being patient, others are not. Others feel Bedard needs help now and do no want to be waiting literal years for that player to maybe be drafted and developed by the Hawks.

The unfortunate truth is that Hawks likely don't get Misa this year. They'll get one of Hagens/Martone/Frondell/Desnoyers. The guy who liked this post of yours, Kevin Musto, calls the latter two as bottom 6 centers and/or wingers. I don't necessarily agree with that, however it is safe to say that all those guys hold real risk of not turning into difference makers.

And another unfortunate truth is the Hawks almost certainly won't get McKenna next year. The hope from management is likely that we won't be among the bottom 5 teams in the league, that we'd take a big step in the standings like Anaheim, Columbus, and Montreal did this year. If that is the case, we likely won't be looking at a top 5 pick in 2026.

Maybe you feel comfortable waiting another season or two and going after a big UFA at that point. Problem with that is usually there isn't a guy of Marner's caliber available in free agency. You can't just expect Kaprizov to not re-sign with Minny, let alone have interest in the Hawks if he were to go to free agency.

I'd rather take as many shots at acquiring that caliber of player in free agency as we can. Because it is not a guarantee that we can get them somewhere else right now.

Nobody in this year's draft should be playing in the NHL next season, so no matter how the ping pong balls land it won't provide Bedard with any immediate help.

Regarding that, I want to get Bedard help just as much as you do.

But forcing a $14M mistake isn't the way to go about it.

Look at a guy like Vlasic who is underpaid at $4.6M. I think if you build a good culture in Chicago, you can get a lot of guys on team friendly deals like that. I think that goes out the window when they see you blow your load on Marner and he's not scoring goals in the playoffs.

Just like the coaching situation, if the right option isn't available this year don't force it. Marner isn't the right option.

On the 13.5% chance that the Blackhawks win the lotto, I think Knies could be Hawk via offer sheet.

On the 86.5% chance the Blackhawks are still in the McKenna lotto, I think you can still look at a trade to get Bedard some help.
Example: 2025 Chicago 1st round pick (3rd or 4th overall) + Kevin Korchinski as a basis for Andrei Svechnikov

 

[CallMeShaft]

Nobody in this year's draft should be playing in the NHL next season, so no matter how the ping pong balls land it won't provide Bedard with any immediate help.

Regarding that, I want to get Bedard help just as much as you do.

But forcing a $14M mistake isn't the way to go about it.

Look at a guy like Vlasic who is underpaid at $4.6M. I think if you build a good culture in Chicago, you can get a lot of guys on team friendly deals like that. I think that goes out the window when they see you blow your load on Marner and he's not scoring goals in the playoffs.

Just like the coaching situation, if the right option isn't available this year don't force it. Marner isn't the right option.

On the 13.5% chance that the Blackhawks win the lotto, I think Knies could be Hawk via offer sheet.

On the 86.5% chance the Blackhawks are still in the McKenna lotto, I think you can still look at a trade to get Bedard some help.
Example: 2025 Chicago 1st round pick (3rd or 4th overall) + Kevin Korchinski as a basis for Andrei Svechnikov

I agree about the 2025 draft class not playing in the NHL this season. Only guy you could argue is Misa and I'm not sure I'd want to see him jump up to the best league in the world so soon. I already acknowledged that in my previous post by saying it would take literal years to find somebody of that caliber in the next draft (or two) and to develop them.

You keep mentioning offersheeting Knies, but that isn't happening. He's already said he's not interested in an offersheet, so even if we did win 1st overall, it wouldn't matter. Hell, offersheets in general are a rarity in this league. Blues took advantage of it twice recently, but outside of that, was it Kotkaniemi that was the last successful offersheet? It's almost certainly not going to help this team in the near future.

But I don't mind us trying to explore that avenue. I don't mind us trying to make trades. But I also don't mind us overpaying by a million or two to get a UFA who constantly flirts with a 100pts each season.

All avenues should be explored. I won't be mad if we miss out on Marner. I just like the idea of the Hawks getting a bit more aggressive and trying to make moves to acquire elite forwards. I do not think this team will be like Vegas who can be competitive every year with only one truly elite forward in their lineup.

 

[ColbyChaos]

I mean, he's not gonna publicly say "bring on the offer sheets!"

If he received an offer sheet that is significantly more than what Toronto is offering, he's going to sign it

That’s like your opinion man

 

[WarriorofTime]

Think Leafs will prioritize Knies over Marner (not Knies gets paid more than Marner, but they'll reach an agreeable number with Knies as a higher priority than an agreeable number to Marner). Tavares then only if there's any leftover. I'd expect a Knies extension, and if it stalled, likely a trade versus an offer sheet.

Hawks should sign Marner if they can. They just probably won't because regardless of money, he's in his prime and won't want to take a chance on a rebuild maybe figuring it out.

 

[TheFridge]

You're comfortable being patient, others are not. Others feel Bedard needs help now and do no want to be waiting literal years for that player to maybe be drafted and developed by the Hawks.

The unfortunate truth is that Hawks likely don't get Misa this year. They'll get one of Hagens/Martone/Frondell/Desnoyers. The guy who liked this post of yours, Kevin Musto, calls the latter two as bottom 6 centers and/or wingers. I don't necessarily agree with that, however it is safe to say that all those guys hold real risk of not turning into difference makers.

And another unfortunate truth is the Hawks almost certainly won't get McKenna next year. The hope from management is likely that we won't be among the bottom 5 teams in the league, that we'd take a big step in the standings like Anaheim, Columbus, and Montreal did this year. If that is the case, we likely won't be looking at a top 5 pick in 2026.

Maybe you feel comfortable waiting another season or two and going after a big UFA at that point. Problem with that is usually there isn't a guy of Marner's caliber available in free agency. You can't just expect Kaprizov to not re-sign with Minny, let alone have interest in the Hawks if he were to go to free agency.

I'd rather take as many shots at acquiring that caliber of player in free agency as we can. Because it is not a guarantee that we can get them somewhere else right now.

Again, getting Bedard was such a double-edged sword for this franchise.

Just have to hope management can keep out the noise and do things that make sense for the team today and going forward.

The bolded is so tired. You can say that a year or two out from any free agent class. You can say that about Marner right now. You don't build a team through FA either way. It is a supplemental market.

 

[Kevin Musto]

You keep mentioning offersheeting Knies, but that isn't happening. He's already said he's not interested in an offersheet

It's easy to say that now when the situation in Toronto is good.

But what if Toronto comes in at $5Mper, and Hawks come in at $6.8M... what then? Maybe Kyle doesn't care at all about giving up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and he offers upward of $9M. Which contract is Knies going to sign then?

 

[WarriorofTime]

It's easy to say that now when the situation in Toronto is good.

But what if Toronto comes in at $5Mper, and Hawks come in at $6.8M... what then? Maybe Kyle doesn't care at all about giving up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and he offers upward of $9M. Which contract is Knies going to sign then?

Signing the offer sheet isn't even the important part, other than just ticking off Toronto. It's signing an offer sheet that Toronto wouldn't match. That's very unlikely and would likely require Hawks to pay up the premium in terms of draft capital which starts to *really* make it not worth it on two fronts (one you're overpaying for an uncertain improvement and two you're sending away a lot of your own picks which could backfire)

 

[x Tame Impala]

It's easy to say that now when the situation in Toronto is good.

But what if Toronto comes in at $5Mper, and Hawks come in at $6.8M... what then? Maybe Kyle doesn't care at all about giving up a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and he offers upward of $9M. Which contract is Knies going to sign then?

You’d trade Schaefer for Knies??

 

[Kevin Musto]

Signing the offer sheet isn't even the important part, other than just ticking off Toronto. It's signing an offer sheet that Toronto wouldn't match. That's very unlikely and would likely require Hawks to pay up the premium in terms of draft capital which starts to *really* make it not worth it on two fronts (one you're overpaying for an uncertain improvement and two you're sending away a lot of your own picks which could backfire)

Will the Leafs match $9Mx7 ?

Are you going to miss having a 1st, 2nd, 3rd in 2026, if we're out of the McKenna sweepstakes? We'd still have the Florida 1st, an Islanders 2nd, and a Leafs 2nd.

Hawks would have their big 1st line power winger, locked up, only 22 years old.

 

[Kevin Musto]

You’d trade Schaefer for Knies??

?

A Knies offer sheet would only include 2026 picks.

And I'd only do it if the Hawks won the lotto this year and were therefore exempt from the McKenna sweepstakes.

 

[Muffinalt]

Will the Leafs match $9Mx7 ?

Are you going to miss having a 1st, 2nd, 3rd in 2026, if we're out of the McKenna sweepstakes? We'd still have the Florida 1st, an Islanders 2nd, and a Leafs 2nd.

Hawks would have their big 1st line power winger, locked up, only 22 years old.

There'll be a lot of forwards you will really like next year I think. It's a strong group even without McKenna, at least as it is looking right now.

Knies would be a really good compliment to our forward core for sure, but it's a very steep price and we don't yet know how he looks without the loaded Leafs forward group.

 

[Kevin Musto]

There'll be a lot of forwards you will really like next year I think. It's a strong group even without McKenna

Probably, but you'd be looking at guys that aren't making the roster until 2027 at the earliest and more likely 2028. Then when they do step in, will they be as good as Knies is now, or will it take until 2029 or 2030?

we don't yet know how he looks without the loaded Leafs forward group.

Knies is a gamer. He benefits from playing with Matthews and Marner in the way that anyone would, but he's not a passenger coasting off their talent. He's a high motor player. I think he'll be just as effective with Bedard, and he's only 22 so he still has time to get even better.

 

[ColbyChaos]

In no universe is Knues worth what is still likely a top 7 pick in a deep draft in 2026

 

[Northernhawk]

Probably, but you'd be looking at guys that aren't making the roster until 2027 at the earliest and more likely 2028. Then when they do step in, will they be as good as Knies is now, or will it take until 2029 or 2030?

Knies is a gamer. He benefits from playing with Matthews and Marner in the way that anyone would, but he's not a passenger coasting off their talent. He's a high motor player. I think he'll be just as effective with Bedard, and he's only 22 so he still has time to get even better.

Hyman…Bunting…Knies…

 

[MicronMega]

Alex tuch in a trade and Knies via offer sheet please. Give Knies $8m, he is exactly what the hawks need. Armstrong did it with Broberg and Holloway

 

[Kevin Musto]

In no universe is Knues worth what is still likely a top 7 pick in a deep draft in 2026

Knies goes top 10 in a redraft of his own class.

Easy to say the 2026 looks deep now, but D-1 performance isn't always indicative of DY success.

How many big power forwards do we have a shot at in 2026? There's Belchetz... is he going to be as good as Knies?

 

[Rolo]

Get 6'5 Mason Marchment + Matt Dumba (cap dump) for peanuts. There you have a decently skilled winger with size for Bedard.

 

[Deputy McRizzy]

Say the Hawks win the lottery this year…

Then next year finish 3rd worst, but win it again.

Where do they pick?

 

[CallMeShaft]

Say the Hawks win the lottery this year…

Then next year finish 3rd worst, but win it again.

Where do they pick?

They would redo the lotto until a team that isn't the Hawks would win. Which means they'd pick either 3rd, 4th, or 5th overall.